South Buffer Zone of the Beni Biological Station Biosphere Reserve, Bolivia

Date of Publication

Project Status

Completed

Project Start Date

Project End Date

Countries

Regions

Funding Source

2. Background to Project

Project Issue/Problem Statement

At the beginning of the 1990s, an ongoing initiative was launched in the Beni Station Biosphere Reserve. Its aim was to achieve a balance between biodiversity conservation and autonomous sustainable development of the indigenous and local populations located in the vicinity of the biosphere reserve. Without this initiative both the biodiversity of the reserve and the well-being of local people were likely to deteriorate.

Project Description

To achieve the objective, four main actions were proposed:(1) updating the land tenure system and the official land register, (2) enhancing the economic and productive output of the region, (3) strengthening biodiversity conservation and (4) improving the living conditions of the local population. A joint planning initiative resulted in a zoning proposal for the buffer zone that was compatible with the needs of the local population and the conservation objectives of the reserve. A committee was established to oversee the implementation of a working plan. The project ’s goal was to strengthen indigenous social organizations and their management capabilities. The recovery of traditional botanical knowledge, agricultural and forestry practices and the socio-economic diagnosis of local populations was the context for launching a management project of the reserve ’s buffer zones. These efforts led to the development of a strategic management plan for the south buffer zone.

Highlighted Aspects of Ecosystem Approach

· Conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of the benefits were addressed.· Greater understanding of ecosystem functioning was not highlighted. · Biodiversity components traditionally used for food and pharmaceutical purposes were recognized as goods and services, the recipients of which were the local indigenous peoples and farming communities.· The case study illustrates adaptive management. · The local-indigenous level was identified as the appropriate working scale for addressing the issues. · Linkages and responsibilities of the various sectoral components were identified. Among the sectoral groups identified were: the national Institute for the Agrarian Reform, the Forestry Superintendence, the General Biodiversity Directive, the National Protected Areas Service, the General Direction of Land Ordering, the San Borja and Santa Ana Municipalities, the Beni Departmental Authority and the South Buffer Zone Integral Development Local Committee.

Conclusions

· Ongoing long-term participatory processes have produced positive results through the development of strategic management plans.· The participatory process must be flexible and dynamic. A range of participants and components of the process should be involved from the beginning, even during the planning and discussion stages.

Principle 1: The objectives of management of land, water and living resources are a matter of societal choices

3-High

Principle 2: Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level

3-High

Principle 3: Ecosystem managers should consider the effects (actual or potential) of their activities on adjacent and other ecosystems

3-High

Principle 4: Recognizing potential gains from management, there is usually a need to understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context

3-High

Principle 5: Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintain ecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach

3-High

Principle 6: Ecosystem must be managed within the limits of their functioning

3-High

Principle 7: The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales

3-High

Principle 8: Recognizing the varying temporal scales and lag-effects that characterize ecosystem processes, objectives for ecosystem management should be set for the long term

3-High

Principle 9: Management must recognize the change is inevitable

3-High

Principle 10: The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity

3-High

Principle 11: The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices

3-High

Principle 12: The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines

3-High

Operational Guidance A: Focus on the relationships and processes within ecosystem

3-High

Operational Guidance B: Enhance benefit-sharing

3-High

Operational Guidance C: Use adaptive management practices

3-High

Operational Guidance D: Carry out management actions at the scale appropriate for the issue being addressed, with decentralization to lowest level, as appropriate

3-High

Operational Guidance E: Ensure intersectoral cooperation

3-High

7. Lessons Learned and the Outcomes

Lessons Learned

· In this case study, the long on-going participatory processes have shown positive results through the development of strategic management plans.· The participatory process must be flexible and dynamic.· Different actors and components of the process should be involved from the beginning during the planning and discussion stages.